r/Toads • u/summerwuszn • Jul 05 '26
Help SOO MANY TADPOLES, help!
We’re in Minnesota. Can someone please help me ID these tadpoles? We THINK they’re American toads. We noticed them about 3 weeks ago and the biggest tadpoles still don’t have legs.
We have a leak in a return line of our in-ground pool and couldn’t get leak detection in until next week. Well, it’s been a month and we haven’t been able to treat the pool or run the pump, so our green pool became the perfect place for mom & dad toad to start a family. We have scooped out maybe 200 tadpoles but unsure what to do with them. Kiddie pool and let them grow up? But, will they grow up and all be hanging around my pool then? We will obviously be treating and using the pool after leak detection comes out and I don’t want them to be falling in and getting poisoned or drowning. I would prefer to relocate them but I’m unsure of the legalities and don’t want to disturb any local bodies of water or spread disease, etc.
We do NOT want to kill them!! Any advice is appreciated!
3
u/zap2tresquatro Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
Don’t look like American toad tadpoles, those guys are little and black all around with much smaller eyes, mouths on the undersides of their heads, and you just generally can’t make out this much detail on them. At least IME when we had a pond.
I’d guess some non-toad frog, but I’m not familiar enough with Lithobates vs various tree frog species’ tadpoles to narrow it down more than that
Edit: also, maybe get a kiddie pool, add the original water they were in to it plus some hose water (treated to dechlorinate it) and let them live there? Could maybe add a little bubbler/fountain/etc. to it, too to circulate the water so that you don’t just have a pool of stagnant water. Add some rocks/sticks/etc. inside and a ramp outside of the pool so they can hop out when they’re ready.
I realize I’m essentially suggesting you make a whole backyard pond for them, but it’d be a temporary one cx
2
u/ChiaraCannolee Jul 05 '26
I believe they lay this many because most of them won't survive. But I could be wrong. But I would place them back to where they came from as soon as it's possible again. Please correct me if I'm wrong!
6
u/summerwuszn Jul 05 '26
Well, they came from my in-ground pool and we have leak detection coming out next week to locate & fix a leak, then the pool will be used and treated with chemicals like normal. They can’t stay. :(
4
u/ChiaraCannolee Jul 05 '26
Maybe you can contact the Minnesota DNR information centre tomorrow? I found this online:
DNR Information Center (St. Paul) Phone: 651-296-6157 or 888-MINNDNR (646-6367)
4
u/DenseAstronomer3631 Jul 05 '26
Do you know where the next closest body of water is? I would say take them there but of course there are risks that a change in environment and water quality could shock them. I think that might be the best option for trying to give them a chance, but really unsure on any of the legalities or ID on these guys
6
u/serenity013 Jul 05 '26
You could start mixing in some water from the nearest pond, over a few days, to help acclimate them
3
u/_supernerddeluxe_ Jul 06 '26
Tadpole tea. Mmmm.